Adventures

Today, I am travelling by ferry back to the North Island after a beautiful week exploring in and around the Abel Tasman National Park, at the northern tip of the South Island. Access to the park is via a sole road up and over a significant mountain range. Other than that, one must arrive by boat! The park runs along the coast line and high up into a mountain range. A 52 kilometre coastal track runs from one end to the other and in between are many campsites and huts where trampers can spend the night. The beaches are wide and deep and the bright yellow sand runs right up to the edge of native forest.

We stayed in a small holiday bach booked online. It had all of the comforts of home and was completely solar powered. We saw our hosts occasionally as we came and went and they were very welcoming and kind. There was a beautiful sense of space and peace all around. Many native birds are thriving on the South Island, with its lower human population and more native habitat, and there appeared to be a resurgent energy invested in trapping the imported enemies of native birds, namely rats, stoats and possums.

We were able to explore ancient beech forest, recovering coastal forest after the raping of the native giant trees from 1860 to the early 1900s, remote beaches and bays and the small villages that supply the growing tourist industry. New Zealand is always easy to travel in as the local people are invariably friendly and helpful and can communicate in English. All parts of the country have spectacular scenery, reasonably priced accommodation and food and other services.

I am feeling energetic and strong. Life is wonderful!  Peace and love to all, Nigel

Yet another new beginning

 Well, thank goodness I am not a cat or it could be over!  After a few weeks of darkness, I am emerging into blinding light. By the time I got to the end of my latest treatment, I was beset my multiple afflictions: crushing fatigue, itching and rash everywhere but hands, feet and face, and disabling hiccups.

I am now in New Zealand and am able to work all day again on my sister's organic orchard: harvesting, pruning, digging, sorting, packing, driving, eating and sleeping! It is joyous from dawn to dusk. I awake to deafening birdsong and cavort with hedgehogs as dusk descends. Yesterday, I set out en famille for a three day beach holiday at this typically horribly crowded New Zealand beach.

The weather is picture perfect. The sea is a resplendent aquamarine. We have a clear view of the active volcano on White Island spewing out its sulphurous fumes. The water is crystal clear and very inviting if it weren't for the cold temperature!